"He would like to attend the memorial service for his mother," attorney Melissa Heffner said about her client, Arthur French. "He did live with his mother and had a very close bond. He would like to pay his respects and say goodbye."

French's mother died last week and Heffner said the service date has not been set.

French, 55, is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct after a woman said she was raped on Aug. 18, 2009, because French said she owed him $25.

The case is one charged as part of the ongoing Calhoun County Sexual Assault Kit investigations by the Michigan Attorney General's Office.

Michele Richardson, special assistant attorney general, told Calhoun County Circuit Court Judge Sarah Lincoln she opposed allowing French out of jail after listening to recordings of calls he has made from the jail.

Richardson said she and her investigator, Jerry Stonebraker, have listened to multiple calls from French, many to his girlfriend, and said he has threatened the victim in the case and also another family member who has power of attorney for his mother.

Richardson said some of the calls to his mother, despite being near death, focused on his wish to have her property willed to him.

"Many of the phone calls were hostile and with threats," Richardson said.

She said French is offering to have the victim paid not to testify against him and also is hostile to the family member because he feels he is being wronged by her.

"He would cause a disruption to the family memorial event," Richardson argued. "He has a criminal history and is seeking revenge toward (the family member) and the victim."

Heffner argued that part of any agreement to let him attend the funeral would be that he does not have any contact with any of the people mentioned by Richardson.

Lincoln said while she has allowed some inmates to attend family funerals the permission has not been for people charged with capital cases. French faces up to life if convicted.

The judge said she still might have considered the motion if French had not made threats like sending people to the home of the victim.

"Given those threats and to try and convince the victim not to testify, it would not be appropriate to allow him out of the correctional facility."

French remains in the county jail, held on $200,000 cash bond.

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson